Franny Freud Fries Four Foes in Prioress Win

Odds-on choice Franny Freud, ridden by Garrett Gomez, rallied four wide on the turn to register her first grade I victory in the $245,000 Prioress Stakes (VIDEO) at Belmont Park July 4.

The New York-bred daughter of Freud recorded her fourth consecutive win for trainer John Terranova II and has now won stakes on dirt, grass, and synthetic surfaces. She defeated four 3-year-old filly rivals in the Prioress.

Franny Freud, owned by Paul Pompa Jr., Stephen Yarbrough, and Winter Park Partners, won by 1 3/4 lengths at odds of 7-10, completing the six furlongs in 1:10.11 over a fast track. Champagne d'Oro ran on for second, with second choice Bonnie Blue Flag finishing third.

The winner broke well and settled nicely in fourth early while racing off the rail for Gomez. Stormandaprayer was intent on getting the lead while tussling with Champagne d'Oro and Bonnie Blue Flag and opened up a one-length advantage after cutting swift quarter-mile fractions of :21.85 and :44.97. Franny Freud, biding her time early on the turn, advanced outside and took over as the small field straightened away for the drive.

After opening a big lead, Franny Freud drifted out several paths in the final furlong but corrected herself when shown the stick by Gomez to hold off the steadily progressing Champagne d'Oro, ridden by Miguel Mena.

Champagne d'Oro was boxed in on the turn and had to alter course at the three-sixteenths pole. She finished up well.

“Well-deserved! I’m very happy for her," he said. "I’m very happy for everyone. We didn’t know how fast the early fractions were going to be. Of course, there was a lot of speed in the race, but she’s fast and Garrett just kind of let her settle into her spot. It looked like she was just waiting to pounce. I know how good she is and I’m glad she got the grade I under her belt because she deserves it."

He said the Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 7 could be next for Franny Freud "if everything is well."

“She’s just all horse," added Gomez. "She’s a little bitty thing but she gives 120%. As far as how far she’ll go, she just keeps answering questions for everybody, including her fans. She’s a New York-bred doing good things.”

Franny Freud, who carried top weight of 122 pounds, was coming off a six-length win over New York-bred fillies in a division of the New York Stallion Stakes at seven furlongs on the turf May 26. She captured the seven-furlong Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) over Keeneland's Polytrack April 7 to begin her current streak. Overall, the superb bay filly has won eight of 11 races with two seconds.

She earned $150,000 for the Prioress win, extending her career winnings to $686,029.

Out of the D'Accord mare Frankly Fran, Franny Freud was bred by Anothony Grey.

She paid $3.40, $2.40, and $2.10 with the exacta worth $14.20. Champagne d'Oro, 39-1 winner of the one-mile Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont in her last start June 5 for trainer Eric Guillot, returned $4 and $2.40. Bonnie Blue Flag was $2.10 to show in her graded stakes debut for Peachtree Stable.